Palestine

Palestine continues to endure the legacy of prolonged and ongoing conflict, particularly in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, where unexploded ordnance (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) pose a persistent threat to civilians.

In Gaza, the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict has resulted in the deployment of thousands of tons of explosive munitions by air, sea, and land, creating an unprecedented level of ERW contamination. This has compounded the effects of previous escalations since 2008, significantly worsening the situation.

Similarly, the West Bank has seen a sharp escalation in military operations, including ground incursions, drone strikes, and the use of live ammunition in densely populated areas. These actions have contributed to a growing presence of ERW across the territory, particularly in locations prone to clashes and Israeli military activity. According to the Palestinian Mine Action Center (PMAC), 46 hazardous areas have been confirmed.

As a result, both Gaza and the West Bank face a deteriorating EO contamination landscape, posing daily risks to civilians—especially children and those living near confirmed hazardous areas.

These conditions severely hinder recovery and development efforts. Vulnerable populations—including children, displaced families, and farmers—are disproportionately affected. In this context, humanitarian mine action is essential to saving lives, enabling safe access, and strengthening resilience within affected communities.

Country Programme

Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) has operated in Palestine since 1987, with a longstanding commitment to humanitarian disarmament and the protection of civilians. While Palestine is not heavily contaminated with landmines, areas—particularly in Gaza—remain affected by cluster munitions and other explosive hazards.

To reduce the threat posed by explosive ordnance, NPA implements Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and Conflict Preparedness and Protection (CPP), primarily through national NGO-accredited partners. These efforts are reinforced by capacity-building of national actors and technical guidance provided by NPA.

NPA has a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Palestinian Mine Action Center (PMAC) and works closely with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and other stakeholders. NPA’s CPP activities equip communities with practical knowledge and skills to reduce risk during conflict, while EORE sessions focus on safe behaviors, risk recognition, and emergency response. Training is tailored to be age-, gender-, and context-sensitive and are designed to address the realities faced by at-risk groups, including children and returnees.

Since launching the CPP initiative in 2015, NPA has trained local facilitators and reached over 243,000 individuals with life-saving risk education. The programme emphasizes national ownership, sustainability, and inclusive protection strategies.